Apple is Opening a Research Center in Japan

Apple has announced that it will open a research center in Japan following statements by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicating that the company would boost investment in the country.

”We’re excited to expand our operations in Japan with a new technical development center in Yokohama which will create dozens of new jobs,” Apple said in a statement relayed by the WSJ.

The company was responding to comments by Abe, who said in a stump speech in a suburb of Tokyo that Apple had decided to ”conduct the most advanced research and development in Japan.” He was campaigning ahead of national elections that are set for Sunday. Abe billed the planned investment as a vote of confidence in his economic revival program, dubbed Abenomics. Among other things, Abenomics has led to a weakening of the Japanese currency, the yen, making Japan more affordable to outside investors.

Apple already has research and development centers in China, Taiwan, and Israel. It's also considering sites in Europe.

No word yet on the work that would be done at the site in Yokohama but we'll keep you posted.